Coming to a forest near you… Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect native to Asia that has killed millions of ash trees. First discovered in Michigan in 2002, the EAB has been identified in 30 states (primarily in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast). The beetle larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. Mortality can be swift, and identification of ash trees that may be infested with the EAB can be difficult.
How can landowners help protect ash on their property and elsewhere?
We recommend the following:
- Educate yourself – Visit the Emerald Ash Borer website to learn more about this invasive pest, including how to identify it and what your treatment options may be.
- Follow the beetles – Researchers have been tracking areas where the beetle has been found. Visit the EAB Detection webpage for up-to-date information on beetle detection and distribution.
One of the most fascinating qualities of the Roan Highlands is the complex bio-diversity of the region. High elevation grassy balds colliding with shrubs, spruce-fir and hardwood forests is a potent mix. In the Roan you can find 25 globally rare ecological communities, as declared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and 5 federally endangered species. This is a major reason why we value the Roan and do close monitoring of exotic invasive species.
SAHC and our Roan Stewardship partners met in summer 2014 to discuss the growing threat posed by the invasion of feral hogs into our mountain landscapes and how to combat their spread. These non-native animals threaten the health of our ecosystems including impacting rare species, destroying fragile habitats, and contaminating water sources. Since then, we and our partners have made important strides in addressing the issue of feral hogs in the Roan. 
Dubbed the “Redwood of the East”, eastern hemlock is a long-lived and slowing growing giant that can reportedly live up to 800 years-old and reach heights of more than 150 feet. The species is considered to be the most shade tolerant tree in the Eastern US and is an ecologically important component of Southern Appalachian forests. The dense shade cast by the evergreen tree’s canopy creates critical wildlife habitat, stabilizes stream banks, and keeps mountain forests and streams cool.
Over the past year, SAHC’s Roan Stewardship Director, Marquette Crockett, has been talking to conservationists, wildlife agencies, landowners, and farmers about something deeply disturbing in the Highlands of Roan — the growing frequency of invasive wild hog damage.
The forecast said to expect a wintry mix on the first morning in March, as a group of 
This fall, 6th and 7th grade boys from the French Broad River Academy (FBRA) volunteered to help heal a 45-acre conservation tract in the Sandy Mush area. They spent three days identifying invasive species and learning how to properly eradicate them without disturbing indigenous plants nearby.
by Margot Wallston, SAHC AmeriCorps Stewardship Associate — July 2013
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a deciduous, woody, perennial vine native to parts of Asia. It was introduced as an attractive and hardy ornamental to the U.S. sometime between 100-200 years ago. It can now be found in many eastern states, but the area around Asheville, North Carolina might win the prize for today’s largest and most insidious bittersweet infestations, due to successful marketing by area nurseries in the early years of its introduction.
Last Saturday (April 7, 2012), our intrepid Stewardship staff held a volunteer workday on a piece of property SAHC owns in the Sandy Mush area of Buncombe County. The property is over 100 acres in size and almost entirely forested, with portions of lush, rich cove forest. Americorps Stewardship Associate Margot Wallston chronicled the experiences of the day:
